Receiver apparatus and method for receiving data units over a channel

ABSTRACT

When transmitting medium access control protocol data units for the high speed downlink shared channel over a plurality of hybrid automatic repeat request processes, one of the processes can be in a retransmission procedure. In this case, stalling of the transmission can occur, because the medium access control layer for the high speed downlink shared channel of the receiver apparatus ( 3 ) buffers the following packet data units, when a preceding protocol data unit is waiting in the stalled process. To enable an early processing of the already received data, the receiver apparatus determines, whether the next expected service data units for a higher layer such as a radio link control layer, are included in the already received packet data units by taking into account the sequence number for the higher layer. Therefore, the medium access control layer for the high speed downlink shared channel accesses the data of the service data unit for the higher layer.

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for receivingdata units over a channel. More particularly, the present inventionrelates to a receiver apparatus and method for receiving data units overa high speed downlink shared channel of wireless communication systemsaccording to 3rd Generation standards of the Universal MobileTelecommunication System (UMTS).

State of the art document WO 2004/019543 A1 describes a method of hybridautomatic repeat request process configuration in a mobile communicationsystem. Thereby, a plurality of hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ)processes transmit data packets from a transmitter to a receiver, one ofwhich is reserved for specific data flows of high priority. More stateof the art information can be found in “3GPP TS 25.321 V5.7.0 (2003-12)Technical Specification 3rd Generation Partnership Project; TechnicalSpecification Group Radio Access Network; Medium Access Control (MAC)protocol specification (Release 5)”, “3GPP TS 25.308 V5.2.0 (2002-03),Technical Specification, 3rd Generation 15 Partnership Project;Technical specification Group Radio Access Network; High Speed DownlinkPacket Access (HSDPA); Overall description; Stage 2 (Release 5)”, whichare both hereby incorporated by reference” as well as in WO 2004/042993.

The methods as described in the above and other references have thefollowing disadvantage explained in some details in the following:

According to these methods, data is transmitted in the downlink, i.e.from the UMTS transmitter in the Node B to the receiver in the UMTSmobile station or UE (user equipment) via the high speed downlink sharedchannel (HS-DSCH) at high speed. In a sub-layer of the MAC layer, theso-called MAC-hs layer (hs: high speed), a HARQ retransmission protocolcontrols the retransmission of MAC-hs PDUs. At the receiver in themobile station, the soft-bits of a retransmitted MAC-hs PDU aresoft-combined with the soft-bits of an earlier transmission of thisMAC-hs PDU. The MAC-hs layer is located on the Node B. The peer entitiesof the HARQ retransmission protocol are hence located on the Node B andthe mobile station or UE.

In addition to the HARQ retransmission protocol, there is a secondprotocol, which is relevant in the context of the present invention: Itis the so-called Radio Link Control (RLC) protocol, the peer entities ofwhich are located on the mobile station's serving RNC (radio networkcontroller) and the mobile station. For the details of the Radio LinkControl protocol (RLC protocol) e.g. acknowledged mode (AM) andunacknowledged mode (UM) data transmission, 3GPP TS 25.322 V5.2.0(2002-09) Technical Specification 3rd Generation Partnership Project;Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network, which is herewithincorporated by reference. This RLC protocol is in charge of

-   -   performing segmentation of RLC SDUs (service data units, i.e.        data units, which are received from the next higher layer above        the RLC layer) into fragments, which are sent as part of an RLC        PDU (protocol data unit, i.e. a data unit, which the RLC layer        hands down to the next lower layer, which is here the MAC        layer), and, if applicable, concatenation of different RLC SDUs        or fragments of different RLC SDUs into RLC PDUs, and    -   (if configured accordingly) controlling retransmission of RLC        PDUs, which the receiver indicates to the transmitter as not        having been correctly received.

If data is transmitted via the HS-DSCH, these data are also alwaysprocessed by an RLC protocol entity above the HARQ protocol, and thisRLC protocol entity can then be configured for

Acknowledged mode (AM) data transmission, or

Unacknowledged mode (UM) data transmission.

“Acknowledged mode data” is also abbreviated by AMD, “Unacknowledgedmode data” by UMD. In both UMD and AMD transmission, the RLC PDUs have asequence number, where UM prescribes 7 bits and AM prescribes 12 bitsfor coding the sequence number. This corresponds to a sequence numberrange from 0 to 127 for UM, and from 0 to 4095 for AM. If configured forAMD transmission, the RLC protocol performs segmentation (and, ifapplicable, concatenation) of RLC SDUs into RLC PDUs, and improvesreliability of data transmission by performing retransmissions. Ifconfigured for UMD transmission, the RLC protocol only performssegmentation and, if applicable, concatenation. On the transmittingside, an RLC PDU is further processed by the MAC layer, or moreprecisely the MAC-d layer, which may add a MAC header, if dedicatedlogical channels have to be distinguished. This MAC header identifiesthe dedicated logical channel, on which the RLC PDU is transmitted. TheMAC-d PDU (i.e. the protocol data unit produced by the MAC-d layer) isthen delivered to the MAC-hs layer located on the Node B of the UMTS.Here, one or more MAC-d PDUs destined for the same mobile station arecompiled into a MAC-hs PDU. These MAC-d PDUs may belong to differentlogical channels, i.e. have different MAC headers. Hence, the MAC-hs PDUmultiplexes MAC-d PDUs of different logical channels, however, for thesame receiving mobile station. In contrast to that, one MAC-d PDU alwayscontains exactly one RLC PDU.

A MAC-hs PDU compiled from one or more MAC-d PDUs, is further processedby the physical layer and then transmitted via the High Speed DownlinkShared Channel.

As visible from the above, a MAC-hs PDU, which is destined to aparticular UE, multiplexes MAC-d PDUs of different logical channels, inother words, at some point in time one MAC-hs PDU may contain MAC-d PDUsof different logical channels, while at other points in time it onlycontains MAC-d PDUs of the same logical channel.

The MAC-hs layer in the UE has to take care of receiving MAC-hs PDUs insequence. The MAC-hs PDU sequence may be changed due to the fact thatseveral HARQ processes on the base station independently send MAC-hsPDUs of the same priority class to a particular UE. For this areordering entity is available on the UE (one for each priority class)provided with a reordering window and a reordering timer, by which thereceiving MAC-hs entity on the UE enforces that only MAC-hs PDUs whichare in the correct sequence, are further processed, i.e. aredisassembled so that the MAC-d PDUs contained in these MAC-hs PDUs areonly delivered to the next higher sub-layer (i.e. the MAC-d layer), ifthe processed MAC-hs PDUs all have Transmission Sequence Numbers (TSNs),which are the expected ones, i.e. in sequence. In order to identifyMAC-hs PDUs, which are not the expected ones, the receiving MAC-hs layermaintains a counter, which indicates the TSN of the next expected MAC-hsPDU, and if a MAC-hs PDU with this particular TSN is received, thecounter is incremented by 1.

Since the MAC-hs entity on the UE enforces that only MAC-hs PDUs, whichare in the correct sequence, are further processed, there is thefollowing disadvantage, which translates into increased processingdelay: Since the MAC-hs PDU in general contains MAC-d PDUs of differentlogical channels, it may well happen that all contained (first) MAC-dPDUs of one or more logical channels are in sequence, while second MAC-dPDUs of other logical channels contained in the same MAC-hs PDU are notin sequence. Hence, the first MAC-d PDUs are not processed—although theycould be without any problem for the receiving RLC entity that processesthe RLC PDUs contained in the first MAC-d PDUs—just because the secondMAC-d PDUs are not in sequence. Consequently, the RLC entities on theUE, which are to further process the RLC PDUs contained in these firstMAC-d PDUs unnecessarily wait for these RLC-PDUs (contained in the firstMAC-d PDUs), which naturally causes unnecessary delay.

It is an object of the invention to provide an apparatus and method forreceiving data units with an improved processing delay performance.

This object is solved by a receiver apparatus as defined in claim 1 andby a receiving method as defined in claim 11.

The main idea is to make available a subset of information known to theRLC layer also in the MAC-hs layer so that the MAC-hs layer can alreadydecide on whether RLC-PDUs contained in MAC-d PDUs, which are receivedin a MAC-hs PDU, are in sequence and therefore can already be deliveredto the RLC entity that processes these RLC-PDUs. This subset ofinformation may comprise, for each logical channel, and therefore forthe associated RLC entity, at least the next expected sequence number ofthe RLC entity, which sequence number is part of the RLC header of theRLC PDU. It should be noted that this sequence number (SN) is differentfrom the transmission sequence number (TSN), which is part of the MAC-hsheader, i.e. belongs to the MAC-hs PDU.

The term “output at least indirectly” as used in claims 1 through 11covers “output directly” and “output indirectly”.

The term “output directly” is meant to indicate that the lower layerthat outputs data directly towards the higher layer is followed by thishigher layer, without any intermediate layer. Accordingly, the term“output indirectly” covers the case that there is an intermediate layerbetween the lower layer and the higher layer, and the data output by thelower layer passes at least the intermediate layer or is processed bythe intermediate layer.

Advantageous developments of the invention are mentioned in thedependent claims.

The present invention has the further advantage that an improvedprocessing of data units waiting in the reordering buffer of the lowerlayer is enabled. Thereby, a channel-dependent decision is made withrespect to the protocol data units for the higher layer. For example,when one or more protocol data units of the lower layer are missing inthe sequence of received protocol data units for the lower layer, thenthe received protocol data units are buffered until the missing dataunits are received. It is possible to provide some means to limit thebuffering of received data units, such as a reordering timer or areordering window, but these means are provided as long time limitationsto avoid unnecessary requests for retransmission of missing data units.Hence, in this case processing of the data units is delayed, even whenmeans such as a reordering timer or a reordering window are provided.But, even if some protocol data units are missing in the sequence ofprotocol data units of the lower layer, the buffered protocol data unitsof the lower layer can already contain a continuous series of servicedata units for a specific logical channel, i.e., a specific higher layerprotocol entity. Hence, at least the service data units to build up thehigher layer protocol data units are forwarded to the higher layerprotocol entity, so that the processing of higher layer protocol dataunits is enabled, before the missing protocol data units are received bythe lower layer, and even if these protocol data units never arrive.Thereby, the lower layer takes into account the sequence number or someother information stored in the higher layer service data units of theprotocol data unit of the lower layer.

Thereby, it is to be noted that the term “sequence number” is notlimited to a series of integers and can be represented by some otherinformation, a combination of characters and digits, for example.

The measure as defined in claim 2 has the advantage that the data unitscan be sent to a higher layer, which is not directly above the lowerlayer. It is also possible, that further intermediate layers areprovided.

The measure as defined in claim 3 has the advantage that the alreadyreceived data units for the higher layer protocol entity can beprocessed without influencing the process of other logical channels,that means other higher layer protocol entities. Hence, the generationof unnecessary status reports or requests for retransmission isprevented.

According to the measures as defined in claims 4, 5 and 6, the lowerlayer, the intermediate layer and the higher layer can be arranged aslayers of a receiver apparatus for an universal mobile telecommunicationsystem terrestrial radio access network (UTRAN). Thereby, the receiverapparatus can be arranged as a part of the mobile equipment of a userequipment according to 3rd Generation standards.

According to the measures as defined in claims 7 and 8 the lower layeris informed about the next expected sequence number for the higher layerprotocol entity from the intermediate layer, and the intermediate layerrequests the next expected sequence number from the higher layerprotocol entity to which it has assigned the channel identificationnumber received from the lower layer. Therefore, the requests follow thelogical structure of the different layers of the receiver apparatus.

According to the measures as defined in claims 9 and 10 the higher layerprotocol entity is informed about its channel identification number. Ahigher layer protocol entity does not necessarily know about its ownchannel identification number, because the intermediate layer handlesthe respective logical channels. When the higher layer protocol entityknows or is informed about its channel identification number, it cananswer a request from the lower layer made with respect to the channelidentification number of the higher layer protocol entity.

Thereby, the measures as defined in claims 7 and 8, and 9 and 10, areadvantageous, when a plurality of higher layer protocol entities,perhaps with varying channel identification numbers, are provided, whichare connected with the lower layer via one or more intermediate layers.Thereby, a plurality of intermediate layers may be arranged paralleland/or serial between the lower layer and the plurality of higher layerprotocol entities.

These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from andelucidated with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter.

The present invention will become readily understood from the followingdescription of preferred embodiments thereof made with reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which like parts are designated by likereference signs and in which:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of network elements of a mobile networkaccording to preferred embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows the network elements, as shown in FIG. 1, in further detailaccording a first embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 3 shows the part of the receiver apparatus shown in FIG. 2 infurther detail according to a second embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of network elements of a mobile network 1according to preferred embodiments of the invention. The mobile network1 can be arranged for wireless communications systems according to 3rdGeneration standards. Therefore, the receiver apparatus 2, which is apart of a user equipment 3, is described in the following with respectto a downlink transmission from an universal mobile telecommunicationsystem terrestrial radio excess network 4 connected via a core network 5to an external network 6. But, the receiver apparatus 2 and the receivermethod are also applicable for other environments, and can be includedin or processed by other types of equipment.

The network 4 comprises radio network controllers 7, 8, wherein theradio network controller 7 is connected with the radio networkcontroller 8 over an interface 9. Further, the network 4 comprises basestations 10, 11, wherein the base station 10 is connected to the radionetwork controller 7 over an interface 12, and the base station 11 isconnected to the radio network controller 8 over an interface 13. Thebase station 10 provides services for cells 14, 15, and the base station11 provides services for cells 16, 17. The user equipment 3 is locatedin the area of the cell 16 so that the user equipment 3 is connected tothe base station 11 over an air interface 18 (shown in FIG. 2). Thereby,the base station converts the data flow between the interface 13 and theair interface 18. When the user equipment 3 leaves the area of cell 16and enters the area of cell 15, the data flow from the radio networkcontroller 8 is directed over the interface 9 to the radio networkcontroller 7, and then the radio network controller 7 converts the dataflow between the interface 9 and the interface 12 so that the data flowfrom interface 9 is forwarded to the interface 12. The radio networkcontroller 7 is then acting as a drift radio network controller 19(shown in FIG. 2) and the base station 10 converts the data flow betweenthe interface 12 and the air interface 18 so that the base station 20,as shown in FIG. 2, is represented by the base station 10. If the driftradio network controller 19 is left out, and the data flow is directlytransmitted over the radio network controller 8 to the base station 11over the interface 13, then the base station 20, as shown in FIG. 2, isrepresented by the base station 11.

The radio network controller 8 is connected to a serving general packetradio service support node 21 over an interface 22. The radio networkcontroller 7 is also connected to a serving general packet radio servicesupport node 23 (SGSN) over an interface 24. When the data flow isdirected over the support node 23 and the interface 24 to the radionetwork controller 7, then the radio network controller 7 is itselfacting as a serving radio network controller 25 (SRNC) (shown in FIG.2), and in this case, if the data flow is directed from the interface 24towards the radio network controller 8 over the interface 9 to connectto the user equipment 3 located in the cell 16, the radio networkcontroller 8 is acting as a drift radio network controller 19 (DRNC).

The support nodes 21, 23 of the core network are usually used for packetswitched services. But, instead of the serving general packet radioservice support nodes 21, 23 another means such as a mobile serviceswitching center or a visitor location register can be provided.

The support nodes 21, 23 are connected to a gateway general packet radioservice support node 26 (GGSN) via interfaces 27, 28, respectively. Thesupport node 26 is the switch at the point, where the core network 5 isconnected to the external network 6. Hence, all incoming and outgoingpacket switched services connections go through the support node 26. Inthe preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the support node 26 isconnected over an interface 29 to a server 30 of the external network 6.The server 30 provides connections for packet data services such as theinternet. But, the support note 26 can also be arranged as a switch toan external circuit switched network 6. In this case, the server 30provides circuit switched connections such as the integrated servicesdigital network telephony service or the public switched telephonenetwork.

FIG. 2 shows network elements of the mobile network according to thefirst preferred embodiment of the present invention in further detail.Thereby, the serving radio network controller is connected via the driftradio network controller 19 with the base station 20. As described withreference to FIG. 1, depending on the location of the user equipment 3,it is also possible that the serving radio network controller 25 isdirectly connected to the base station 20, or in other words the role ofDRNC and SRNC is represented by the same radio network controller. Tosimplify the description, the functionality of the drift radio networkcontroller 19 is only shown as a throughput, but the drift radio networkcontroller 19 can also convert the data flow between the serving radionetwork controller 25 and the base station 20.

The serving radio network controller 25 comprises a plurality of radiolink control entities 35, 36, 37, 38 connected over interfaces 39, 40,41, 42 to a medium access control layer 43 for the dedicated logicalchannels. Thereby, the radio link control (RLC) entities 35, 36, 37, 38provide logical channels and the medium access control layer 43 for thededicated logical channels is responsible for handling dedicated logicalchannels allocated to the user equipment 3 in connected mode. The mediumaccess control layer 43 is connected via interfaces 44, 45, 46, 47 witha medium access control 48 for the high speed downlink shared channel49. Thereby, the base station 20 is connected to the user equipment 3over the air interface 18.

The user equipment 3 comprises at least a lower layer 50, anintermediate layer 51 and a higher layer containing protocol entities52, 53, 54, 55. The lower layer 50 is adapted to the medium accesscontrol 48 and can also be arranged as a medium access control for thehigh speed downlink shared channel 49. The intermediate layer 51 isadapted to the medium access control layer 43 for the dedicated logicalchannels and can also be arranged as a medium access control for thededicated logical channels. Each of the higher layer protocol entities52, 53, 54, 55 represents the peer-entity of the radio link control(RLC) entity 35, 36, 37, 38, respectively.

The lower layer 50 is connected via local interfaces 56, 57, 58, 59 withthe intermediate layer 51. The intermediate layer 51 is connected viainterfaces 60, 61, 62, 63 with the higher layer protocol entities 52,53, 54, 55, respectively. Further, according to the first preferredembodiment of the present invention, the higher layer protocol entity 55is connected via an interface 64 with the intermediate layer 51, and thehigher layer protocol entity 55 is connected over a further interface 65with the lower layer 50. The other protocol entities of the higher layer52, 53, 54 are also connected with the intermediate layer 51 and thelower layer 50 by interfaces (not shown) corresponding to the interfaces64, 65.

On request of the lower layer 50, sent to the higher layer protocolentity 55 over the interface 65, the higher layer protocol entity 55responds with the next expected sequence number, if the channelidentification number transmitted in the request from the lower layer 50equals the channel identification number of the higher layer protocolentity 55. To be informed about the channel identification number, thehigher layer protocol entity 55 requests its channel identificationnumber from the intermediate layer 51 over the interface 64. Hence, evenif the medium access control layer 43 for the dedicated logical channelsis instructed by the Radio Resource Control entity (RRC) to vary thechannel identification number for the radio link control (RLC) entities35, 36, 37, 38 on the side of the serving radio network controller 25(the transmitter side), the higher layer protocol entity 55 is informed(via the RRC entity on the UE) about its actual channel identificationnumber from the intermediate layer 51 of the user equipment 3 of thereceiver apparatus 2.

The functionality on the user equipment side 3 will become readilyunderstood from the following detailed description of the secondpreferred embodiment of the present invention made with reference toFIG. 3.

FIG. 3 shows the lower layer 50, the intermediate layer 51 and thehigher layer protocol entity 55 of the user equipment 3 according to asecond preferred embodiment of the present invention in further detailfocusing at the service data units and the protocol data units, whichare processed in the different layers. Thereby, according to the secondpreferred embodiment, the higher layer protocol entity 55 is connectedvia an interface 66 with the intermediate layer 51, and the intermediate51 is connected with the lower layer 50 via an interface 67. On requestof the lower layer 50 over the interface 67, the intermediate layer 51responds the next expected sequence number for the higher layer protocolentity 55. The intermediate layer 51 receives this next expectedsequence number from the higher layer protocol entity 55 on requesttransmitted to the higher layer protocol entity 55 over the line 66.Thereby, the intermediate layer 51 assigns to each of the higher layerprotocol entities 52, 53, 54, 55 an individual channel identificationnumber, so that the intermediate layer 51 can send the request for thenext expected sequence number made with respect to the request from thelower layer 50 that includes the channel identification number, to theappropriate higher layer protocol entity 52, 53, 54, 55.

The lower layer 50 receives a service data unit over the downlink sharedchannel 49, and this service data unit is stored as a protocol data unit70 of the lower layer 50 in a reordering buffer 71 (FIG. 2). Theprotocol data unit 70 comprises a lower layer header information 72 thatis readable by the lower layer 50. The lower layer header information 72comprises, for example, a transmission sequence number to enable thelower layer to reorder the received protocol data units of the downlinkshared channel, if, for example, data is sent over a plurality of hybridautomatic repeat request processes. Specifically, the base station 20can send over the high speed downlink shared channel 49 with up to 8processes implementing hybrid automatic repeat request type II or IIIprocedures. The data units received from the lower layer 50 of the userequipment 3 are not necessarily received in the same order as sent fromthe base station 20. For example, one of the hybrid automatic repeatrequest processes may be in a retransmission procedure, so that thisprocess is stalled, i.e. has to wait until transmission of the protocoldata unit has been confirmed by a positive acknowledgement (ACK) fromthe lower layer of the user equipment 3. The data units sent over theother processes can then overhauling the data units waiting in thestalled process.

In the UMTS, the lower layer may be given by the MAC-hs sub-layer of theMedium Access Control (MAC) layer.

The reordering buffer 71 is arranged to buffer a plurality of protocoldata units 70. When the transmission sequence number of the lower layerheader information 72 is detected from the lower layer 50 as the nextexpected transmission sequence number, then the service data units 73,74 included in the protocol data unit 70 are output to the intermediatelayer 51. The intermediate layer 51 receives the service data unit 73 ofthe lower layer 50 as a protocol data unit 75 for the intermediatelayer. Further service data units denoted by the three dots and theservice data unit 74 are sent to the intermediate layer 51 and receivedby the intermediate layer 51 as protocol data units for the intermediatelayer, as shown by the three dots and the protocol data unit 76. Thereceived protocol data units 75, 76 are split up in the intermediatelayer 51. Thereby, the protocol data unit 75 comprises an intermediatelayer header information 77 and a service data unit 79. The protocoldata unit 76 comprises an intermediate layer header information 78 and aservice data unit 80. The intermediate layer header information 77, 78comprises, for example, a channel identification number, so that each ofthe service data units 79, 80 can be assigned to a specific higher layerprotocol entity 52, 53, 54, 55. In FIG. 3, the channel identificationnumber stored in the intermediate layer header information 77 and thechannel identification number stored in the intermediate layer headerinformation 78 assign both the service data unit 79 and the service dataunit 80 to the higher layer protocol entity 55. Therefore, the servicedata unit 79 and the service data unit 80 are output to the higher layerprotocol entity 55, and received by the higher layer protocol entity 55as protocol data units 81, 82.

In the UMTS, the intermediate layer may be represented by the MediumAccess Control (MAC) layer, or more precisely by the MAC-d layer, i.e.the MAC sub-layer dealing with data packets sent via dedicated logicalchannels. Accordingly, the intermediate layer header may be representedby the MAC-d header.

On the RAN side, this layer is located on the SRNC.

The protocol data units 81, 82 comprise higher layer header information83, 84, respectively. The higher layer header information 83 comprises asequence number for the higher layer protocol entity 55, which in caseof the UMTS is an RLC (Radio Link Control) protocol entity. The higherlayer protocol entity 55 compares the sequence number of the protocoldata unit 81 with the sequence number of the protocol data unit 82 and,if the occasion arises, reorders the protocol data units 81, 82 withrespect to their sequence numbers. Further, the higher layer protocolentity 55 determines, whether a protocol data unit 81, 82 has beenreceived, the sequence number of which equals the next expected sequencenumber for the higher layer protocol entity 55.

The next expected sequence number for the higher layer protocol entity55 can be determined in different ways. For example, the higher layerprotocol entity 55 can define a window of allowed sequence numbers. Ifprotocol data units 81, 82 are received by the higher layer protocolentity 55, and the sequence numbers of the received protocol data units81, 82 build up a sequence beginning at the lower bound of the window,the protocol data units 81, 82 are considered as being in the requiredsequence, then the payload data 85, 86 are extracted as shown by thearrow 87. Then, the window is shifted upwards so that the lower bound ofthe window equals the number following the last in-sequence sequencenumber of received protocol data units. And, receipt of the sequencenumbers is confirmed in a confirmation or status report sent back viathe base station 20 to the serving radio network controller 25, or moreprecisely to the corresponding higher layer (RLC) protocol entity 35,36, 37 or 38, on the serving radio network controller 25. This caserefers to the so-called Acknowledged Mode Data (AMD) transmission RLCprotocol in UMTS, which allows for transmitting data packets withretransmission functionality. In a protocol entity of the AMD RLCprotocol the lower bound of the window of sequence numbers representsthe next expected sequence number of this AMD RLC protocol entity. In“3GPP TS 25.322 V3.17.0 (2003-12) Technical Specification 3rd GenerationPartnership Project; Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network;Radio Link Control (RLC) protocol specification (Release 1999)”, whichis incorporated herewith by reference, this lower bound of the receptionwindow is given by the state variable VR(R).

Another way to define the next expected sequence number is a counter theinitial value of which is defined to be 0, which counter is incrementedby 1 if the higher layer protocol entity receives a protocol data unit81 from the layer below, the sequence number of which protocol data unitequals the value of the counter before receiving this protocol dataunit. Hence, the counter value corresponds to the sequence numberfollowing that of the last protocol data unit received. In the UMTS, thestate variable VR(US) of the Unacknowledged Mode Data (UMD) transmissionRLC protocol (as defined in TS 25.322) corresponds to this countervalue.

Accordingly, the higher layer protocol entities 52, 53, 54, 55 may beconfigured as an UM RLC protocol entity, defining the next expectedsequence number by means of the state variable VR(US).

But, the present invention is not limited to such concepts and the nextexpected sequence number can also be determined by any other concept.

The payload data 85, 86 and possibly other payload data received earlieror later are then reassembled to service data units 88, and possibly 89of the higher layer protocol entity 55. It is to be noted that thepayload data 86 may be split up in two parts, and one part of thepayload data 86 is reassembled together with the payload data 85 andother payload data, as shown by the three dots, to the service data unit88, while the other part of the payload data 86 is reassembled withother following payload data to the service data unit 89. The reassemblyprocedure is shown by the arrow 90 in FIG. 3.

The reassembly procedure is the inverse operation to the segmentationand concatenation procedure performed in at least some RLC entities 35,36, 37, 38. That means, for example, in the radio link control entity 38service data units 88, 89 are input, and the length of the service dataunit 88 is not an integer multiple of the length of each of the payloaddata 85, 86 segments. Hence, a part of the payload data 86 is filled upby a segment of the following service data unit 89. Hence, each of theservice data units 88, 89 is segmented on the side of the radio linkcontrol entities 38, and for the payload data 86 a concatenation occurs.

Therefore, the service data units 88, 89 output from the higher layerprotocol entity 55 are recovered and comprise the same data as therespective service data units input to the radio link control 38.

The payload data 85, 86 is ciphered in the radio link control layer 38,excluding the two first octets, which comprise the protocol data unitsequence number and a poll bit. The protocol data unit sequence numberis one input parameter to the ciphering algorithm, and it must bereadable by the higher layer 55 to be able to perform deciphering.Hence, the sequence number for the higher layer protocol entity 55 isreadable by the lower layer 50, and also by the intermediate layer 51.

When the packet data unit 70 is received by the lower layer 50 and thetransmission sequence number for the lower layer 50 is not the nextexpected transmission sequence number for the lower layer 50, then theprotocol data unit 70 is buffered in the reordering buffer 71. Then, thelower layer 50 determines the sequence numbers of all RLC protocol dataunits contained in the packet data unit 70, i.e. the sequence numbers,which the higher layer protocol entity 55, and possibly the other higherlayer protocol entities 52, 53 or 54 has to process. The sequence numberis stored in the higher layer header information 83, which is a part ofthe intermediate layer 51 service data unit 79 of the lower layer 50service data unit 73. The sequence number for the higher layer protocolentity 55 is not ciphered and therefore transparent for the lower layer50. Hence, the lower layer 50 can detect from the structure of theheader information for the intermediate layer 51 and the higher layerprotocol entity 55 the position of the sequence number for the higherlayer protocol entity 55 in the service data unit 73. Then, the lowerlayer 50 reads out from the service data unit 73 the sequence number forthe higher layer protocol entity 55 together with the channelinformation. Then, the lower layer 50 may send a request to theintermediate layer 51 via the interface 67 on the basis of the channelinformation. The intermediate layer 51 may answer this request with thenext expected sequence number for the higher layer protocol entities 52,53, 54, 55 associated with this channel information.

Thereafter, the lower layer 50 determines, whether the sequence numberfor the higher layer protocol entity 55 read out from the service dataunit 73 equals the next expected sequence number for the higher layerprotocol entity 55. If this determination is answered in theaffirmative, then the service data unit 73 is sent to the intermediatelayer 51 for further processing, while the remaining service data units,which are found to be not in sequence are kept in the lower layerservice data unit 73 in the reordering buffer.

The described procedure is then repeated for all further service dataunits such as the service data unit 74. Thereby, the described steps canalso be performed in an other order so that, for example, if theoccasion arises, all service data units 73, 74 of one of the protocoldata unit 70 are output to the intermediate layer 51 in parallel.

Then, the payload data 91 of the lower layer 50 protocol data unit 70 ischecked. Thereby, the payload data 91 comprises a padding field 92 tofit a preset size for the payload data 91.

An alternative way of handling the higher layer sequence numbers in thelower layer may be that for each identified logical channel an owncounter for the higher layer sequence number is instantiated so that itis not necessary to communicate with the higher layer protocol entity(RLC entity) for each service data unit contained in the lower layerpacket data unit.

Although an exemplary embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, itwill be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes andmodifications can be made, which will achieve some of the advantages ofthe invention without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention. Such modifications to the inventive concept are intended tobe covered by the appended claims in which the reference signs shall notbe construed as limiting the scope of the invention. Further, in thedescription and the appended claims the meaning of “comprising” is notto be understood as excluding other elements or steps. Further, “a” or“an” does not exclude a plurality, and a single processor or other unitmay fulfill the functions of several means recited in the claims.

1. A receiver apparatus for receiving data units over at least achannel, wherein said receiver apparatus comprises a lower layer and ahigher layer with at least a higher layer protocol entity, said higherlayer protocol entity is assigned to said lower layer, said lower layercomprises a reordering buffer to buffer at least a data unit input tosaid lower layer as a protocol data unit, and said lower layer isadapted to output at least a part of said data unit at least indirectlyto said higher layer as a service data unit, when said lower layerdetects said data unit as a next expected protocol data unit, said lowerlayer is adapted to detect a sequence number for said higher layerprotocol entity, which sequence number is included in said data unitbuffered in the reordering buffer, and said lower layer is adapted tooutput at least a part of said data unit buffered in said reorderingbuffer at least indirectly to said higher layer protocol entity as aservice data unit, when said lower layer detects that said sequencenumber for said higher layer protocol entity is regarded as a nextexpected sequence number for said higher layer protocol entity.
 2. Thereceiver apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said receiverapparatus further comprises an intermediate layer which is adapted toreceive said service data unit sent from said lower layer as a protocoldata unit, to determine at least a part of said protocol data unit thatis intended for said higher layer protocol entity, and to send said partof said protocol data unit intended for said higher layer protocolentity to said higher layer protocol entity as a service data unit. 3.The receiver apparatus as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that saidlower layer is adapted to send a copy of said part of said data unitbuffered in said reordering buffer to said intermediate layer as aprotocol data unit for said intermediate layer, when said lower layerdetects that said sequence number for said higher layer protocol ofentity is regarded as said next expected sequence number for said higherlayer protocol entity, and that said intermediate layer is adapted toprocess said part of said protocol data unit that is intended for saidhigher layer protocol of entity and to send said part of said processedprotocol data unit to said higher layer protocol entity as a servicedata unit, and to erase any other part of said protocol data unit. 4.The receiver apparatus as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that saidintermediate layer is arranged as a medium access control layer fordedicated logical channels, wherein said higher layer protocol of entityis assigned to one of said dedicated logical channels.
 5. The receiverapparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said lower layeris arranged as a medium access control layer for a high speed downlinkshared channel, wherein said lower layer is adapted to receive said dataunits as service data units of said downlink shared channel.
 6. Thereceiver apparatus as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that saidhigher layer is arranged as a radio link control layer.
 7. The receiverapparatus as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that said lower layeris connected with said intermediate layer, that said lower layer isadapted to detect a channel identification number together with saidsequence number for said higher layer protocol entity from said dataunit buffered in said reordering buffer and to send said channelidentification number to said intermediate layer over said connection,and that said intermediate layer is adapted to send said next expectedsequence number for said higher layer protocol entity in response tosaid channel identification number sent to said intermediate layer fromsaid lower layer.
 8. The receiver apparatus as claimed in claim 7,characterized in that said intermediate layer is connected with saidhigher layer protocol entity, that said intermediate layer is adapted tosend a request for a sequence number to said higher layer protocolentity assigned to said channel identification number over saidconnection with the higher layer protocol entity, and that said higherlayer protocol entity is adapted to send said next expected sequencenumber to said intermediate layer in response to said request from saidintermediate layer.
 9. The receiver apparatus as claimed in claim 2,characterized in that said lower layer is connected with said higherlayer protocol entity, that said lower layer is adapted to detect achannel identification number together with said sequence number forsaid higher layer protocol entity from said data unit buffered in saidreordering buffer and to send said channel identification number to saidhigher layer protocol entity over said connection, and that said higherlayer protocol entity is adapted to send said next expected sequencenumber of said higher layer protocol entity in response to said channelidentification number sent from said lower layer to said higher layerprotocol entity, when said channel identification number received fromsaid lower layer equals a channel identification number of said higherlayer protocol entity.
 10. The receiver apparatus as claimed in claim 9,characterized in that said higher layer protocol entity is connectedwith said intermediate layer, that said higher layer protocol entity isadapted to send a request for said channel identification number of saidhigher layer protocol entity to said intermediate layer over saidconnection with said intermediate layer, that said intermediate layer isadapted to send said channel identification number of said higher layerprotocol entity to said higher layer protocol entity in response to saidrequest from said higher layer protocol entity.
 11. A receiving methodfor receiving data units over at least a channel, said receiving methodcomprises the steps of: receiving a data unit over said channel;buffering said data unit as a protocol data unit of a lower layer;determining, whether the protocol of data unit is a next expectedprotocol data unit of the lower layer or not; outputting at least a partof said data unit buffered as a service data unit to a higher layer,when said protocol data unit is said next expected protocol data unit;detecting a sequence number for a higher layer protocol entity in saidprotocol data unit buffered; and outputting at least a part of said dataunit buffered as a service data unit at least indirectly to said higherlayer protocol entity, when said sequence number detected equals a nextexpected sequence number for said higher layer protocol entity.